ST HELENS Barway Committee chairman John McGiveron believes anything less than a rock wall will not solve the problem of dangerous ocean conditions at the entrance to Georges Bay.
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Mr McGiveron said that it was a build up of sand in the ocean channel that led to the sinking of an eight-metre fibreglass boat on the weekend.
Saturday's accident saw four men rescued after a large wave smashed their vessel's windscreen and eventually sank it.
Mr McGiveron said dangerous boating conditions were synonymous with a shallow barway, and that the men involved in Saturday's accident were lucky to avoid serious injury.
But Mr McGiveron believes there will be "no quick fix" to the often-maligned ocean passage and the frequent build-up of sand.
"Really, anything short of a retaining wall is not going to fix things in the long- term," he said.
"We can dredge all we want, but sand will continue to build up.
"I guess it comes down to money though."
Mr McGiveron said he would meet Marine and Safety Tasmania tomorrow to assess the barway and discuss solutions to the problem.
The St Helens Barway Committee is a lobby group that raises funds for the maintenance of the St Helens Barway and pushes for better management of the channel.